STG: On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax has been out for over a year now. Do you guys have a different relationship to your songs? Do you like them less or more?
Shawn: They've become way more natural. I almost don't even think about it when we play them anymore. It's been really cool because now we're playing the new stuff, so when we're done with the new stuff in the set and come back to the old stuff, it's almost like coming home after tour...like it's just more comfortable.

STG: When you're between albums, do you look back and see what you can change or just push forward and not worry about it?
Shawn: We definitely held true to the sound that we have. Alot of bands tend to just ditch the old thing and move forward, but we were very conscious of the sound that got us to where we are. We maintained that and just made it better.

STG: Since you write nearly everything, has it gotten easier to write songs?
Shawn: The second record there's a lot of pressure because when you write your first record, if it does well, awesome. If it doesn't, then it's back to the drawing board. When you write a second record, fans expect more of you. At first it was like...it was never harder because writing is just what we do, but it was just I guess a little more intense because we had to make sure that what we were doing was going to equal or top what we've already done.

STG: What makes a show particularly great or memorable? Is it the crowd energy...the connection between you and the audience...or feeling like you clicked as a band?
Shawn: First and foremost it's always clicking as a band. You know, as much as we love our fans, we started this band for each other so that's number one. And of course fan interraction. If the fans are awesome, then the show is awesome.

STG: If you had to choose, would you rather be known for great studio recordings or live shows?
Shawn: To me, a great band should be good at both.

STG: After you released On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, you guys have been on tour almost non-stop. What's it like being away from home for that long?
Shawn: It's gotten to the point now where being at home feels wrong. It's like literally being on the road is home for us. It's our dream, it's what we all do, what happened, and we want to work hard and always be on the road.

STG: What do you love/hate about playing shows and being on tour?
Shawn: I hate none of it, because it's better than working a job that keeps you in one place all the time. I love almost everything about it. I know its, like, lame but I love talking to fans and playing for fans...I love being on the road and seeing new places, eating different foods, stopping at different stores...It's a different experience every single day.

STG: Do you have any favorite bands that you've toured with so far?
Shawn: I love the Devil Wears Prada. They're sweethearts.

STG: Who do you want to tour with that you haven't yet?
Shawn: Ultimately, Paul McCartney. I mean, that'll never happen but he's my idol.

STG: Are you guys stoked about Warped Tour?
Shawn: Very excited this year because we're doing it the right way and we're doing the whole thing. We've got a bus so it's going to be way more comfortable. We're headlining the Smart Punk stage with opportunities to move to bigger stages so it's going to be a lot of fun.

STG: What's been the most meaningful part of this whole experience to you so far?
Shawn: Just being able to watch kids sing words that I wrote back to me. I'll never get over that.

Alesana's new album Where Myth Fades To Legend was released June 3rd 2008. Catch them this fall with Chiodos and Silverstein!